Category: Public Info

Union County, NJ – What is the difference between a good plant and a bad plant? Plenty, if you want to contribute to a healthy environment. Conservationists are encouraging home owners and professional landscapers alike to plant native species that help support a natural, flourishing ecosystem in local communities.

To help gardeners learn how to select beneficial plants and avoid the “bad” ones, the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders invites the public to a special free event, Good Plants and Bad Plants: How to Tell the Difference and Support Healthy Ecosystems, on Saturday, May 18 from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at the Trailside Nature & Science Center, 452 New Providence Road in Mountainside.

The event is free but pre-registration is required by emailing watershed7@ucnj.org.

Landscapers and property managers are encouraged to attend, as well as homeowners, gardeners, civic and environmental organizations, and members of the public who are interested in conserving native species.

“Anyone who works in a yard, garden, or any other landscaped space throughout Union County can help support pollinator preservation, water conservation, and other important environmental causes by eliminating harmful invasive species and planting more native species,” said Freeholder Chair Bette Jane Kowalski.

Good Plants and Bad Plants is presented by Mike Van Clef, an expert on rare and invasive species and co-founder of the New Jersey Invasive Species Strike Team. Mr. Van Clef has 25 years of experience in the field of ecological health monitoring and natural resource policy.

Mr. Van Clef will explain why native plants are important, how to select beneficial native plants for their property or business, and how to help foster a healthy, diverse ecosystem in the Union County community.

Members of the public are also invited to Trailside on Thursday, June 6, from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., for a native plant “Swap & Shop” at the Union County Demonstration Garden.

Attendees can bring an invasive plant from their property and trade it for a native plant free of charge, purchase additional native plants on site, and tour the elaborate grounds. Pre-registration is required by emailing watershed7@ucnj.org.

For additional guidance on beneficial plants in the Union County area download the free “Plant This, Not That” brochure from the County website.

To help conserve and improve the habitat in Union County parks, volunteer with the Adopt-a-Park program. Information on volunteering is online at ucnj.org/parks or call 908-789-3683. Any individual or group is welcome to join.

For quick links to all Union County environmental programs and activities visit The Green Connection, ucnj.org/green-connect.

Good Plants and Bad Plants is a special presentation of the Union County Department of Parks and Recreation Environmental Services office through the New Jersey Watershed Ambassador Program, a project of Americorps and the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection.

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For all Union County programs and services visit ucnj.org, call the Public Info Line, 877-424-1234, email info@ucnj.org or use the online Contact Form.

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County of Union Administration Staff is wearing jeans today in support of Denim Day and to bring more sexual assault issues to light. Sexual violence is a serious public health problem and affects millions of women and men in the United States.

 Prosecutor’s Office – Police Academy employees

Department of Human Services – Social Services Division employees

Office of Witness Advocacy employees  Marcela Triacanico, Ana Maria Melara and Kimberly Best-Paris

Union County, NJ – Union County residents seeking reliable information about services for adults age 60 and older can come to convenient locations throughout the County and speak in person with experienced staff from the Union County Aging and Disability Resource Connection, a division of the Department of Human Services.

The community visits are scheduled every month through Union County’s ASK (Aging Services Kiosk) program. In May, the ASK program will come to public libraries in Elizabeth, Clark, Cranford, Garwood, Mountainside, Summit and Union, and to the Rahway Senior Center.

“Our goal is to help senior residents access the resources they need to stay connected with their communities,” said Freeholder Chair Bette Jane Kowalski. “The ASK program helps seniors, their families, and their caregivers get expert guidance in person, in a comfortable setting close to home.”

Guidance offered through the ASK program includes home delivered meals, respite care, home care, adult day care, and support services for caregivers.

Assistance with completing applications and forms is also provided.

All Union County residents are welcome to attend any ASK event. The dates and locations for May are:

Monday, May 6

Elizabeth Public Library – LaCorte Branch

418 Palmer Street

Elizabeth, NJ 07202

10:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon

 

Wednesday, May 8

Cranford Public Library

224 Walnut Avenue

Cranford, NJ 07016

10:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon

 

Thursday, May 9

Rahway Senior Center

1306 Esterbrook Avenue

Rahway, NJ  07065

10:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon

 

Thursday, May 16

Garwood Public Library

411 Third Avenue

Garwood, NJ 07027

10:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon

 

Friday, May 17

Mountainside Public Library

Constitution Plaza

Mountainside, NJ 07092

10:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon

 

Monday, May 20

Clark Public Library

303 Westfield Avenue

Clark, NJ 07066

10:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon

 

Monday, May 20

Summit Public Library

75 Maple Street

Summit, NJ 07901

10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

 

Tuesday, May 28

Union Public Library

1980 Morris Avenue

Union, NJ 07083

11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

 

The Union County Division on Aging and Disability Resource Connection is modeled on a national initiative aimed at promoting wellness, independence, dignity and choice. In addition to ASK and other outreach events, printed information is available in English and Spanish.

For more information about the Union County Division on Aging and Disability Resource Connection, visit the Department of Human Services online at ucnj.org/departments/human-services or call 888-280-8226 (toll free), 908-527-4870, or 908-527-4858. Spanish speakers may call 908-527-4863. 

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For all Union County programs and services visit ucnj.org, call the Public Info Line, 877-424-1234, email info@ucnj.org or use the online Contact Form.

Connect with Union County on social media.

Union County, NJ- The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders will recognize local artists at a public reception and awards ceremony on Wednesday, May 1, at the 18^th Annual Exhibit and Contest for County of Union employees and their families. The event will take place at Liberty Hall Center, located at 1085 Morris Avenue in Union Township, beginning at 5:30 p.m.

“The Employee Art Exhibit recognizes the contributions that our Union County employees make to the cultural life of our community, including retired employees, volunteers, and family members,” said Freeholder Chair Bette Jane Kowalski, liaison to the Union County Cultural and Heritage Programs Advisory Board. “On behalf of the Freeholder Board, I would like to thank Liberty Hall Center for hosting the exhibit and awards reception, and the National Arts Program Foundation for funding the award prizes.”

Presented in partnership with the National Arts Program, the exhibit will be open to the public weekdays until May 21, from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Entrants in the Employee Art Exhibit were judged by three professional artists with broad experience in the art world: Lawrence Cappiello, Frank Falotico, and Darlene Foster.

Lawrence Cappiello is currently the Assistant Administrator for Cultural & Heritage for the City of Rahway. He was a founder of Arts Guild New Jersey (formerly the Arts Guild of Rahway), a non-profit center for the Arts in Rahway, NJ, and he served as Executive Director and artistic Director of the organization from 1998 to 2018.

Frank Falotico is a painter, figurative sculptor and anatomist who taught at duCret School of Art in Plainfield for more than 43 years and served as the school’s Director from 1985 until 2016. He has conducted numerous lectures and workshops in artistic anatomy throughout the area. He has exhibited his paintings in numerous shows in New Jersey and New York including the Swain Galleries in Plainfield, the Visual Arts Center of New Jersey, Rutgers University, and the Salmagundi Club in New York City. He has served on the Advisory Boards of the Monmouth County Vocational School and the Somerset County Technical Institute.

Darlene Foster studied drawing and painting at the Sarah Brown School of Art in Atlanta. She participated in shows and exhibits before moving to Plainfield in 1977, where she began incorporating photography into her artwork, leading to a career as a retouching artist. Pencils, brushes and dyes gave way to digital in the mid ‘90s when the computer was introduced to her as an art tool. Ms. Foster currently does photographic painting, retouching, restoration and collage for photographers and the general public as well as her personal artwork.

The National Arts Program is in its 36^th year with 90 venues in 38 states. The program was conceived by Leonard E.B. Andrews, an art collector, publisher, business executive and journalist, to encourage and develop of artistic expression.

The National Arts Program provides an opportunity for people to present their talent, at whatever level, in a free, public exhibition. It is sponsored by The National Arts Program Foundation of Malvern, Pennsylvania. To learn more about the program, visit thenationalartsprogram.org.

Additional support for this event is provided by the New Jersey State Council on the Arts in the Department of State, a partner agency of the National Endowment for the Arts.

For more information about the Employee Art Exhibit and all other programs of the Union County Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs, visit ucnj.org/parks-recreation, call 908-558-2550 or e-mail culturalinfo@ucnj.org. NJ relay users dial 711.

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For all Union County programs and services visit ucnj.org, call the Public Info Line, 877-424-1234, email info@ucnj.org or use the online Contact Form.

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Event features exhibitions and break out talks on “How to Make Your Money Last” for seniors beginning 9 a.m. in Garwood

GARWOOD, NJ—The Senior Citizens Council of Union County will be presenting “Staying in New Jersey: How to Make Your Money Last,” a free event featuring talks, exhibitions, and screenings, running from 9 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. at the Westwood in Garwood.

The event is co-sponsored by the Union County Freeholder Board as part of Freeholder Chair Bette Jane Kowalski’s “Empowering Union County” initiatives. The Westwood is located at 438 North Avenue.

“Many of Union County’s seniors are very active and living longer than ever before, which means their finances must last longer,” said Freeholder Chair Bette Jane Kowalski, who announced initiatives for seniors as part of her “Empowering Union County” initiatives. “We’re proud to partner with the Senior Citizens Council of Union County and co-sponsor this informative and interactive event, which covers a wide variety of topics related to finance and health.”

​​​Doors open at 9:00 am with a free continental breakfast.  Attendees will have the opportunity to browse the information exhibits on display.  There will be free on-site screenings offered by local area hospitals and healthcare providers.  The formal program with a panel of guest speakers will run from 10:15am to 11:45am with time for questions.

Featured topics include:

Personal Budget Planning:  Monitoring your spending.  Prioritizing your needs.

Downsizing Your Home:  Upkeep problem or financial burden, or both?  Smaller home, rental, alternative living arrangements

Credit & Lending Options:  Home equity lines, refinancing, reverse mortgages.  Can you get a cash advance?

Getting a Job:  Full or part-time.  What are you qualified to do?  Job training and placement.

Medicaid Eligibility:  How do you qualify?  When should you apply?

Other Government Funded Support:  What are the subsidized programs for home and healthcare?

To RSVP, or for more information, please contact the Union County Senior Citizens Council at 908-964-7555 or go to www.njseniorcouncil.com or email info@njseniorcouncil.com

Union County, NJ — If you were living in the Plainfield area in the late 1800s and wanted a family portrait, it’s quite possible you found your way to the studio of Guillermo Thorn.

And if one of these days you find yourself wandering along the Green Brook in the Watchung Reservation and come across some ruins, there are old Thorn photographs revealing what once stood there.

Should any of this history fascinate you — the beginnings of commercial photography in America or the 19^th century mills that once powered industries along the brooks in the Watchung Mountains, then there is only one place you want to be this Sunday: Masker’s Barn, 13 Cataract Hollow Road, Berkeley Heights, in the Deserted Village of Feltville.

As part of the spring celebration at Union County’s Watchung Reservation, which includes Wild Earth Fest and Touch A Truck, the Deserted Village will host free hayrides through the village, along with history tours.

Part of that history will be told by Scotch Plains resident Rich Palmatier, an amateur historian who has made Thorn and the mills along the Green and Blue Brooks the focus of hundreds of hours of research.

Reproductions of Thorn’s work will be on display in Masker’s Barn, with Palmatier explaining Thorn’s adventures through the area and the photographic legacy he left behind, including a series of stereographs — precursors to Viewmasters (if you’re old enough to remember them) and today’s virtual reality headsets.

“This Sunday is going to be quite a day up in the Watchung Reservation,” said Freeholder Chair Bette Jane Kowalski.  “While Wild Earth Fest and Touch A Truck are returning to mark our annual Spring kick off in County Parks, there will be even more to do.”

“The Watchung Stable will be hosting free pony rides and barn tours, while the Deserted Village will be hosting a mini-Four Centuries,” Kowalski said.

All activities will run from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., with main parking at the Stable and Deserted Village. Shuttle buses will get visitors around the Reservation.

As part of the special focus on Guillermo Thorn, several Thorn-related Union County History Cards will be available for youngsters to collect at Masker’s Barn. To learn more about collecting Union County History Cards, visit ucnj.org/historycards.

Guillermo Thorn Born was born in 1837, two years before the invention of the photograph. He would grow up to see photography infiltrate every aspect of 19th-century life. 

Thorn gave up a brief career as a drawing and painting teacher and opened his first studio in Saugerties, NY, before moving to Plainfield in 1864. 

While he quickly established himself as a professional photographer, taking portraits and scenics of the area, his personal life was marred by tragedy. By 1870, disease claimed the lives of his wife, Alice, and their five children. He eventually remarried, with his later children becoming muses for his pictorial work.  

As part of Palmatier’s presentations on Sunday, he will share old photographs of the long forgotten mills along the Green and Blue Brooks. During the 18th and early 19th centuries, these waterways were the industrial hub for this area, producing everything from lumber to paper to gunpowder, grist, material for hats and crushed stone. 

There were upwards of 12 mills along these two brooks. In some spots, you can still see remnants of the dams, sluices, and spillways that provided the water power to drive the machinery. 

For those who participate in the National Parks Passport Program, the Deserted Village Church and General Store will be open to stamp Parks passports. The site, originally settled in the 1700s, is included in the National Parks Service Crossroads of the American Revolution National Heritage Area, along with a number of other Revolutionary War era sites in Union County. 

To learn more about the Passport to Your National Parks program and the locations of Parks Stamps in Union County, visit ucnj.org/parks-recreation/cultural-heritage-affairs.

For information on all Union County parks and activities visit ucnj.org/parks-activities.

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For all Union County programs and services visit ucnj.org, call the Public Info Line, 877-424-1234, email info@ucnj.org or use the online Contact Form.

Connect with Union County on social media.

Union County, NJ – The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders informs residents that children who are at least 12 months old and under age 19 and who are Medicaid eligible, uninsured or underinsured are eligible to receive free vaccines to prevent measles. This free service is available at the County’s Immunization Clinic operated by the Union County Department of Human Services, Division of Social Services.

“Recently, over a dozen new cases of measles have been reported in our area,” stated Freeholder Chair Bette Jane Kowalski. “The Freeholder Board takes this outbreak very seriously and we want to make residents aware that there are resources available to prevent the spread of measles. Vaccination measures in turn, help to protect all our children and residents.”

In 2000, measles was considered eliminated in the United States.  According to the US Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 2019 has the second highest number of measles cases in the United States in 25 years. Complications include pneumonia, ear infections, swelling on the brain, and negative impacts on pregnancy. The safe and effective MMR shot (Measles, Mumps, and Rubella, also known as German or three-day measles) is the best way to protect against infection.

Measles, a virus that become airborne when an infected person coughs or sneezes, can live in the air and on exposed surfaces for up to two hours.  Measles in considered highly contagious with 90% of those who are unvaccinated contracting the disease when exposed.

The CDC continues to encourage parents to get their children vaccinated on schedule with the MMR vaccine. People 6 months and older should be protected with the vaccine, especially before leaving on international trips.

Union County’s Immunization Clinic, in operation since 1995, is part of the federal Center for Disease Control’s VFC (Vaccines For Children) program and is part of each state’s Medicaid plan. The clinic offers a series of vaccines suggested by the CDC as well as required vaccines for public school admission. Appointments are required and residents may call 908-965-3627 or 908-965-3868 to schedule. The county’s clinic is located at 40 Parker Road, Elizabeth, and is open Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

For additional information and resources on measles please visit the New Jersey Department of Health’s measles website (https://www.state.nj.us/health/cd/topics/measles.shtml), the NPHIC (https://www.nphic.org/members-area/measles-resources/#20190416-nh)  or CDC’s measles website (https://www.cdc.gov/measles/index.html).

For personal assistance with any service provided by the Union County Department of Human Services, call the UCDHS Action Line at 888-845-3434 or 908-558-2288.

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For all Union County programs and services visit ucnj.org, call the Public Info Line, 877-424-1234, email info@ucnj.org or use the online Contact Form.

Union County, NJ — The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders invites residents and visitors to go back in time at the Merchants and Drovers Tavern Museum, located at 1632 St. Georges Avenue in Rahway, for a social gathering with a performance and presentation of period music from the 19th century. This event, titled “History on Tap,” will take place on Friday evening, May 3 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

“This event will bring residents ages 21 and older together to celebrate the local history of Union County,” said Freeholder Chair Bette Jane Kowalski. “It promises to be an enjoyable opportunity for county residents to learn about colonial traditions while mixing with others with similar interests.”

Anne and Ridley Enslow will recreate the music of American history, dressed in historically accurate clothing of those who lived around 1770.

During the evening, attendees can try their hand at a percussion instrument called the limber jack, recite a toast, participate in sing-alongs and learn a Colonial dance.

A fee of $10 includes food and two drink vouchers (maximum) for beer, wine and soft drinks. Registration is required online at merchantsanddrovers.org.

Anne and Ridley Enslow present concerts on historic themes accompanied by dancing and entertainment. They play music of the American colonial period and the early 19^th century, using instruments appropriate to the period — an 18^th century violin made in France for Ridley and a hammered dulcimer for Anne. A jaw harp, mountain dulcimer, or pennywhistle may also appear, depending on the show. They sing in harmony and tell stories of the times that gave rise to the music.

History on Tap is sponsored by the Union County Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs, and funded in part by a grant from the New Jersey Historical Commission, a Division of Cultural Affairs in the Department of State.

For more information about this and other programs and services related to the arts in Union County, visit online at ucnj.org/parks-recreation/cultural-heritage-affairs, call 908-558-2550 or email culturalinfo@ucnj.org. NJ Relay users may dial 711.

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For all Union County programs and services visit ucnj.org, call the Public Info Line, 877-424-1234, email info@ucnj.org or use the online Contact Form.

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A park in Elizabeth. A sidewalk project in New Providence.  Repairs for municipal buildings in Garwood.  Numerous road repavings. These are some of the projects that this year’s Union County Freeholders Infrastructure Grant program will fund throughout the County.

In all, the Freeholders made awards to 21 municipalities as part of the fifth annual Union County Infrastructure Grant program, funding projects aimed at spurring economic development growth, and providing indirect tax relief.

The program was conceived by Freeholder Christopher Hudak in 2015, developed by the County’s Freeholder Fiscal Committee and administered by the Department of Economic Development.  This year’s Freeholder Fiscal Committee included Freeholder Vice Chairman Alexander Mirabella, and Freeholders Sergio Granados, Angel Estrada, and Kimberly Palmieri-Mouded.

Road improvements once again topped the list as the most requested program for funding, among the municipalities.

“A recent statewide poll taken by Stockton University noted that 46 percent of New Jersey’s commuters sustained a flat tire or some other damage to their vehicles because of roads in need of repair or resurfacing,” said Freeholder Chair Bette Jane Kowalski. “The Infrastructure grant program is aimed at helping our municipalities make these and other needed improvements—and provide relief for our commuters.”

Freeholder Hudak agreed, adding:

“Our goal is to provide an economic boost to our municipalities and leverage their funds in making essential improvements,” said Freeholder Chris Hudak. “With more people moving into Union County than ever before, and new development coming on line, it’s important that we continue to make infrastructure our highest priority.”

 The matching grant initiative makes available approximately $1.5 million to Union County’s 21 municipalities, assisting them to accomplish tasks undertaken in calendar year 2019.

Funding for the grant is provided through the proceeds from the sale of Runnells Specialized Hospital in 2014.

Municipality	Amount	Project(s)
Berkeley Heights	$55,000	Miscellaneous Drainage Improvements
Clark	$50,000	Road Improvements
Cranford	$92,500	Paving Program
Elizabeth	$125,000	Marciante-Jackson-Millet Park Improvements
Fanwood	$55,000	Roadway Improvements for Stewart and Ginder
Garwood	$40,000	Municipal Facilities Repairs
Hillside	$55,000	Orchard Terrace Drainage Improvements
Kenilworth	$65,000	Borough Hall Safety and Security Improvements
Linden	$100,000	Resurfacing of Cranford Avenue
Mountainside	$50,000	Resurfacing of Partridge Run
New Providence	$55,000	2019 Sidewalk Project
Plainfield	$100,000	Woodland Avenue Roadway Improvement
Rahway	$85,000	2019 Road Resurfacing Project
Roselle	$60,000	Roadway Improvements Project
Roselle Park	$55,000	Improvements to Filbert Street
Scotch Plains	$100,000	Road Work Assistance Program
Springfield	$57,500	Improvements to Evergreen Avenue
Summit	$95,000	Drainage Improvements on Wallace Road
Union	$90,000	2019 Road Program Phase II for Fairway Drive South
Westfield	$95,000	Improvements to Rahway Avenue
Winfield	$20,000	Various Improvements

Inductees were chosen for their leadership, commitment to county government, and 20 years of public service.

Freeholder Vice Chairman Mirabella, who was first elected in 1997, has led initiatives to preserve hundreds of acres of open space, expand park space, create new recreational facilities for youth, grow the County’s various educational institutions, create the state’s first Office on LGBTQ Affairs, expand services to those with special needs, and create new workforce and economic development initiatives